Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-02-09
o,ton,lad orm end nistol covered him.

extended arm and pistol covered him.
"Silence! or III let that candle shine
through you"
ayes, captain!" growled the astounded and
frightened halfbreed. II didn't know you
were here"
Lee raised himself and grasped the long
whip in his left hand and whirled it round
his head
"WiH you dry upi"
Tho man sank back against the wall in
silent terror.
"Open that door now-softly."
Manuel obeyed with trembling fingers
"Ned." said Lee in low voice, "bring him
in here-qulck."
There was slight rustic, and Falkler ap.
pealed, backing i'll another gasping figure,
whose eyes were starting under the strong
grasp of the captor at his throat.
"Silence," said Lee, "all of YOU"
There was breathless pause. The sound
of door hestatingly opened in the passage
broke the stiffness, followed by the gentle
voice of Mrs. Scott.
"Is anything the mattera"
Lee made slight. gesture Of warning to
Falkner, of menace to the others. @Every-
things the matter" he called out cheerily.
"Neds managed to half pull down the house
irving to get at something from my saddle
bags"
n hope he has not hurt himself" broke in
another voice mischievously.
"Answer, you clumsy villain" whispered
Lee, with twinkllng eyes.
"I'm all right, thank you" responded Falk-
ner with unaffected awkwardness.
There was q slight murmuring Of voices,
| and then the door was heard to close Lee
turned to Falkner.
"Disarm that hound and turn him loose out
side, and make no noise. And you, Manuell
| tell him what his and your chances are If he
shows his black face here again"
Manuel cast single, terrified, supplicat
ing glance, more suggestive than words, at
his confederate, as Falkner showed him be-
fore him from the room. The next moment
they were silently descending the stairs
"May 60 too, captains" entreated Manuel.
II swear to God"-
"Shut the door," The man obeyed.
snow, then," said Lee, with broad, graft
fed smile, laying down his whip and pistol
within reach and comfortably settling the
pillows behind his back "we'll have quiet
confab. A sort of old fashioned talk, eha
You're not looking well, Manuel. You're
drinking too much again. It spoils your
| complexion"
"Let me go, captain pleaded the man,
emboldened by the good humored voice, but
not near enough to notice peculiar light in
the speakers eye
"You've only just come, Manuel, and at
considerable trouble, too. Well, what have
you got to says What's all this about!
What are you doing here?'
The captured man shuffied his feet ner-
vously, and only uttered all uneasy laugh of
coarse discontinue.
81 see You're bashful Well, I'll help
you along Come! You knew that Hale
was away and these women were here with
out man to help them. You thought you'd
find some money here, and have your own
wajI generally, eh!"
The tone of Lees voice inspired him to
confidence; unfortunately, it inspired him
with familiarity also.
II reckoned had the right to little fun
on my own account, cap. I reckoned ez one
gentleman in the profession wouldn't inter
fere with another gentleman's little game"
he continued coarsely.
"Stand up"
"Wot for!"
"Up, say"
Manuel stood up and glanced at him.
utter cry that might frighten these
women, and by the living God they'll rush
in here only to find you lying dead OH tue
floor Of the house you'd have polluted.
He grasped tue whip and laid the lash OF
it heavily twice over the ruflian's shoulders
Writhing in suppressed agony, the man fen
imploringly on his knees.
"Now, listen" said Lee, softly twirling
the whip in the air. II want to refresh your
memory. Did you ever learn, when you
were with me-before l was obliged to kic!:
you out of gentlemens company-to break
into private house: Answer"